Rotary engine.



` J. P.' BEARINGBR, W. DONAHEY L C. E. WATSON.

i ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 00125, 1908.

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J. F. BEARINGER, W. M. DONAHEY & G. E. WATSON.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIUATION FILED 00115, 1908.

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J. F. BEARINGER, W. M. DONAHEY & C. E. WATSON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 00T.5, 1908.

UNITED STATES PATENT il@ JOHN F. BEARINGER, OF BOSTON, AND WILLIAM M.DONAHEY AND CHARLES E. WATSON, OF MGKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID WATSONASSIGNOR TO SAID BEARINGER AND DONAHEY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN F. BEARINGER, WILLIAM M. DoNAHnr, and CHARLESE. WATSON, citizens of the United States of America, residing at (l.)Boston, (2) and (3) McKeesport, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to rotary engines, and the object of ourinvention is to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth an engineof such class from which a maximum amount of efficiency can be obtainedwith a minimum expenditure of fuel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary engine that canbe used as a blast engine, pump or air compressor.

Our invention aims to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth anengine having an eccentrically mounted revoluble head in which islocated two radially disposed pistons adapted to be driven by steam orair. In connection with the engine, we provide in a manner ashereinafter' set forth positive and reliable means for easily andquickly adjusting the revoluble head to compensate for the wear and tearof the pistons without removing the pistons from the engine, and throughthe medium of the above features of construction, we are enabled toeconomically operate the engine and obtain the highest degree ofefliciency from an engine of the above type.

Our invention will be hereinafter described in detail and reference willnew be had to the drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our engine, Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view of the same, Fig. 3 is an end view of the engine, Fig. lis a cross sectional view of the same, Fig. 5 is an elevation of theinner side of one of the end plates of the engine, Fig. 6 is a verticalsectional view of the same, Fig. 7 is an elevation of the coupling ringused in connection with the revoluble head of the engine, Fig. 8 is across sectional view of the same, Fig. 9 is an end view of the revolublehead of the engine, Fig. 10 is a side eleva tion of the same, Fig. 11 isa front elevation of a bearing block forming part of each of the endplates of the engine, Fig. 12 is a side Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 5, 1908.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Serial No. 456,206.

elevation of the same, Fig. 13 is a front clevation of a wedge used inconnection with the bearing block of each end plate, Fig. 14k is a sideelevation of the same, Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view of one of thepistons, and Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig.17 is a detail sectional view of the coupling ring illustrating a "l"-shaped packing that can be used in connection with the same.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a cylindrical casing having abase 2 adapted to be supported upon a suitable foundation. Upon the topof the casing is formed an enlargement 3 for a steam chest 1, said steamchest communicating with the interior of the casing 1 by curved inletand outlet ports 6 and 6a, these ports being arranged in the ends of theenlargement 3 and continued through the side walls of the casing 1. Thesteam chest 4 is closed by a plate 7 having a steam inlet pipe 8, saidplate and said chest being held upon the enlargement 3 by bolts 9extending through said plate, the bosses 1() on the periphery of thesteam chest `and into said enlargement.

Arranged within the steam chest et is a slide valve 11 employed forreversing the engine, this valve being designed to establishcommunication between either of the ports G or Ga and an annular exhaustport 12 formed in the enlargement 3. The exhaust port has openingthcreinto a discharge pipe 13.` The valve 11 is connected to a manuallyor automatically operable shifting rod 141 therefor, said rod 111extends through a stuiiing box 15 carried by the steam chest andprojects from one side of the latter.

The ends of the casing 1 are provided with annular seats 1G and withperipheral flanges 17. Adapted to engage in said seats and be secured tothe peripheral flange 17 by bolts 18 are circular end plates 19, whichare identical in construction. Each end plate is provided with a centralopening 20 concentric relative to the edge of the plate, said openingterminating in a stufling box 21 of a conventional form having a gland22 secured to said end plate by bolts The inner side of the end plate isprovided with an annular groove 24 eccentric with relation to theopening 20, said groove being located in the upper half of said plate. iThe material protruding on the upper half of the inner circumference ofsaid 4groove is cut away, as

fi (i the recess 26 when the block 27 is adj usted. i

To adjust the wedge 27, said wedge is provided with a threaded bolt 30extending through the end plate and provided with nuts 31. After thebearing block 27 is adjusted, it is locked in a ixed position throughthe medium of a bolt 32 extending through a slot 33 provided therefor inthe end plate, said bolt having nuts 34 for holding the bearing block inengagement with the end plate.

At the ends of the engine are arranged bearings 35 for a shaft 36, saidshaft extending through the stuffing boxes 2l and the openings 20 of theengine. Surrounding this shaft and extending into the grooves 24 of theend plates is a revoluble head, said head comprising semi-cylindricalmembers 37 that are held in the form of a cylinder by combined journaland coupling rings 38, these rings being connected to the ends of themembers 37 by screws 39. The outer sides of the coupling rings 38 can beprovided with coupling rings 38a T-shaped in cross section, as shown inFig. 17.

By the coupling rings 38 supporting the members 37, two oppositelydisposed longitudinal slots 4() are formed, these slots receivingregularly disposed pistons 41 and 4l, carried by sleeves 42 and 42,mounted upon the shaft 3G within the cylindrical casing 1. In the edgesof the slots 40 are arranged semi-cylindrical bearings 40a, thesebearings being self adjusting and snugly holding the pistons 41 and 41awhen moving in and out the revoluble head.` The pistons 41 and 41correspond in width to the inner diameter of the casing 1, and in depthto the members 37 of the revoluble head. Each one of the pistons isprovided with a top groove 43 and side grooves 44. Movably mounted insaid grooves are inverted L-shaped packing strips 45, these strips beingT-shaped in cross-section and extending from the grooves 44 into thegroove 43. The packing strips 45 are held in engagement with the endplates 19 and the inner sides of the casing 1 by flat springs 46arranged in the grooves 43 and 44.

It will of course be understood that a fly wheel, belt pulley or gearwheelV can be mounted upon the shaft 36 for transmitting power tomachinery, or the shaft 36 can be coupled direct to the armature shaftof a motor.

drawings it will be observed that the engine is taking steam through theport 6a and is exhausting through the port 6, slide valve 11 and` port12. As the steam enters port 6, the steam impinges piston 41a and drivesthe same downwardly and around within the casing 1, this movement of thepiston 41L rotating the cylindrical head in the grooves 24, also theshaft 36. The relative position of the piston 41L to the piston 41allows the steam which lies within that portion of the casing extendingbetween the piston 41 and the exhaust port to exhaustfthrough the port6.

To compensate for the wear of therevoluble head within the grooves 24,ywe have provided the bearing blocks 27 and the wedges 29, which areeasily adjusted and locked, whereby the revoluble head will be retainedin engagement with the cylinder between the inlet and exhaust ports Gand 6a.

Ey slight modifications the engine can be made compound and its usebroadened as a power producer.

lVhile in the drawings forming a part of this application there isillustrated the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is obviousthat the same can be varied or changed as to shape, proportion andmanner of assemblage without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new, is

1. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, end plates connected to thecylinder, a shaft journaled in said end plates, each of said end plateshaving its inner face provided with an annular groove eccentricallyarranged with respect to said shaft, a revoluble head surrounding saidshaft and ar- .ranged within said cylinder, said head comprising twosemi-cylindrical spaced members, combined journal and coupling ringssecured to the ends of said members for maintaining them in spacedrelation with respect to each other to provide two longitudinallyextending slots, said rings extending in said grooves, radially disposedpistons mounted upon said shaft and extending through the slots formedbetween the meinbers of the head, laterally movable wedges mounted inthe end plates, vertically adjustable bearings blocks for said rings,said blocks supported and adjusted by said wedges, means carried by theend plates for adjusting said wedges, and means carried by the endplates for locking said blocks in a fixed position.

2. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, end plates connected to thecylinder, a shaft journaled in said end plates, each of said end plateshaving its inner face provided with an annular groove eccentricallyarranged with respect to said shaft, a revoluble head surrounding saidshaft and arranged within said cylinder, saidhead comprising two semicylindrical spaced members, combined ournal and coupling rings securedto the ends of said members for maintaining them in spaced relation withrespect to each other to provide two longitudinally extending slots,said rings extending in said grooves, radially disposed pistons mountedbetween the members of the head, laterally movable wedges mounted in theend plates, vertically adjustable bearing blocks for said rings, saidblocks supported and adjusted by said wedges, means carried by the endplates for adjusting said wedges, and means carried by the end platesfor locking said blocks in a fixed position, each of said members ofsaid head having the longitudinal edges thereof rounded.

3. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, end plates connected to thecylinder, a shaft journaled in said end plates, each of said end plateshaving its inner face provided with an annular groove eccentricallyarranged with respect to said shaft, a revoluble head surrounding saidshaft and arranged within said cylinder, said head comprising twosemi-cylindrical spaced members, combined journal and coupling ringssecured to the ends of said members for maintaining them in spacedrelation with respect to each other to provide two longitudinallyextending slots, said rings extending in said grooves, radially disposedpistons mounted upon said shaft and extending through the slots formedbetween the members of the head, laterally movable Wedges mounted in theend plates, vertically adjustable bearing blocks for said rings, saidblocks supported and adjusted by said wedges, means carried by the endplates for adjusting said wedges, means carried by the end plates forlocking said blocks in a fixed position, and spring-pressed packingstrips carried by the edges of said pistons for engaging the inner faceof said cylinder and said end plates.

4L. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, end plates connected to thecylinder, a shaft journaled in said end plates, each of said end plateshaving its inner face provided with an annular groove eccentricallyarranged with respect to said shaft, a revoluble head surrounding saidshaft and arranged within said cylinder, said head co1nprising twosemi-cylindrical spaced members, combined journal and couplingringssecured to the ends of said members for maintaining them in spacedrelation with respect to each other to provide two longitudinallyextending slots, said rings extendmeans carried by the end plates forlocking said blocks in a fixed position, each of said members of saidhead having the longitudinal edges thereof rounded, and springpressedpacking strips carried by the edges of said pistons for engaging theinner face of said cylinder and said end plates.

5. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports,a head mounted eccentrically of said cylinder and comprising twosemicylindrical sections, said sect-ions having the longitudinal edgesthereof rounded, combined journal and coupling rings secured to the endsof said sections for coupling them together and for maintaining them inspaced relation with respect to each other to provide a pair oflongitudinally extending slots, longitudinally disposed pistonsextending through the slots of the head, vertically adjustable bearingmeans for said rings, and laterally movable means for adjusting andsupporting said vertically adjustable bearing means.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder having inlet andexhaust ports, of a head arranged in said cylinder and embodying a pairof semi-cylindrical spaced sections, coupling rings connecting thesections of the head together, and journal in the ends of the cylindereccentrically with respect to the axis of said ends, a shaft extendingthrough the ends of the cylinder through said head, radially disposedpistons secured to said shaft and extending between the sections of thehead and exterior-ly of the head, and adjustable bearing means mountedin the ends of the casing for said coupling rings.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN F. BEARINGER. VILLIAM M. DONAI-IEY. CHARLES E. VATSON.

Witnesses JAMES J. LUNDIE, THOMAS F. ROBINSON.

